A box of mooncakes sat in the center of the Eight Immortals table.

Everyone stared at it intently.

Yan Sanhe: The young master of Duanmu Palace—so it’s the Grand Imperial Grandson!

Li Buyan: Why would the Grand Grandson send me a box of mooncakes?

Xie Zhifei: Is there some deeper meaning to this?

Young Master Pei: This is definitely a shock!

Huang Qi: The Grand Grandson wouldn’t casually send things to people—even Master and Third Master didn’t get any!

Zhu Qing: Is the Zheng family case no longer important?

Ding Yi: What happened during the three months I wasn’t in the capital?

“Miss, dinner is ready.”

Tangyuan walked in, but seeing the grave atmosphere in the room, she retreated in fright.

Yan Sanhe took a deep breath. “Buyan, put away the mooncakes first. Let’s eat first.”

Li Buyan: “Alright!”

Dinner consisted of ten dishes and one soup. The kitchen’s cooking wasn’t bad, but no one could taste anything.

Young Master Pei secretly bumped Xie Zhifei’s foot: We two didn’t get mooncakes, but she alone did—could Huairen have taken a fancy to her?

Xie Zhifei: It’s possible.

Young Master Pei: This is absolutely outrageous.

Xie Zhifei: Somewhat.

Young Master Pei: Huairen’s taste isn’t that bad. We’re probably overthinking it.

Xie Zhifei: Hopefully.

On the other side.

Li Buyan bumped Yan Sanhe’s foot: Why did he send me mooncakes?

Yan Sanhe: Don’t know.

Li Buyan: My brain feels like mush right now.

Yan Sanhe: The Grand Imperial Grandson is the future Emperor—three palaces, six courtyards, seventy-two consorts.

Li Buyan: That’s a bit too harsh a bucket of cold water.

On yet another side.

Huang Qi bumped Zhu Qing’s foot: I thought Miss Li was reserved for us two—why does our master want to compete too?

Zhu Qing: You’ve developed feelings?

Huang Qi: What do you think?

Zhu Qing: Forget it!

Huang Qi: Can I struggle a bit?

Zhu Qing: Not much hope.

Huang Qi: Dying before the campaign is won—how is my fate as bitter as my master’s!

In one corner of the Eight Immortals table.

Ding Yi’s gaze swept around in a circle—not one person met his eyes.

Damn it, I’ll channel my grief and indignation into appetite.

The meal was eaten in silence, everyone with ulterior motives.

After the meal, everyone moved to Yan Sanhe’s study.

Tangyuan brought in seven bowls of tea. Lanchuan set a water kettle on the small red clay stove, glanced curiously at the people in the room, then closed the door and left.

Xie Zhifei stood up and unwrapped the bundle on the desk, revealing three case files.

“Yan Sanhe, it’s all here.”

Yan Sanhe hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze shifting to look at Pei Xiao.

Why are you looking at me? Look at the case files!

Could she be about to apologize to me in front of everyone?

“Pei Mingting.”

“Mm!”

Yan Sanhe: “You and I have a life-and-death friendship. We’re on the same side.”

Pei Xiao puffed out his chest. “That’s right—you can’t kick me out next time.”

“Next time you act recklessly, I’ll still kick you out.”

“Where was I reckless?”

“Let me ask you.”

Yan Sanhe simply stood up and walked before him. “Can we make any noise about what we’re about to do?”

What matter?

The Zheng family case?

Young Master Pei shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

Yan Sanhe: “Since we can’t, shouldn’t we act discreetly and conduct ourselves low-key?”

Young Master Pei nodded.

Yan Sanhe: “Since we need to be low-key, shouldn’t we be more amiable with people, not making enemies everywhere to avoid unnecessary trouble?”

Young Master Pei: “He has designs on you—how can I be amiable?”

“Designs on what?”

Yan Sanhe sneered coldly.

“What do I, a lone orphan girl, have that’s worth coveting? Or is he coveting my standing in Old Madam’s and Old Master’s hearts, wanting to use me to struggle and compete with the main branch?”

Young Master Pei shot up. “So you understand everything!”

Yan Sanhe: “Do I look that foolish?”

Young Master Pei: “…”

Yan Sanhe stared into his eyes. “Can’t I see they’re singing in harmony, mother and son? Are you the only one who can see it?”

Young Master Pei shrank his neck. “I… I was just afraid you’d be dazzled by Second Master Xie’s face.”

By face?

Yan Sanhe’s peripheral vision glanced at a certain someone nearby. As if anyone could compare to him!

“Am I someone who only looks at faces? Am I that shallow?”

Young Master Pei was questioned into shame and gritted his teeth.

“Fine, next time we run into him, I’ll at worst not fight back when hit, not talk back when scolded.”

After speaking, he cursed himself harshly in his heart: The husband’s authority is not established!

“Good, let’s get down to business now.”

Young Master Pei simply gave up all husband’s authority. “Sanhe, quickly sit back down. Standing is tiring—it strains the waist.”

Li Buyan: Bootlicker.

Huang Qi: Such a disgrace to Pei family men.

Ding Yi: In the three months I wasn’t in the capital, Young Master Pei learned to flatter?

Zhu Qing: When it comes to capability, Miss Yan still wins.

Xie Zhifei had no internal commentary. He reclined in his chair, watching Yan Sanhe, quietly watching.

Yan Sanhe returned to her original seat, took a sip of tea, cleared her throat, and slowly began.

“Before the next heart demon arrives, I want to start investigating the Zheng family case. This isn’t an ordinary case—if we’re not careful, we could bring disaster upon ourselves. While the case files aren’t yet open, you should all consider carefully.”

Young Master Pei glanced at Xie Zhifei: Brother, what’s to consider?

Xie Zhifei: Keep listening.

“Once an arrow leaves the bow, there’s no turning back. Once these case files are opened, everyone present will have their fate tied to this case. What the case implicates, who we might investigate—no one can say for certain.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Xie Zhifei. This person was still quiet today, still constantly looking at her.

“But what can be foreseen is that we few might just puncture a hole in the capital’s sky. Buyan and I have no burdens, but you have fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. Is it worth taking this risk?”

She walked to the door and tossed out one line:

“One cup of tea’s time. Give me your answer.”

Xie Zhifei watched her slender retreating figure, deep emotions churning in his eyes.

Initially, she was the one who refused to take the case.

Now, she was the one asking them to think deeply and even allowing them to be deserters.

Was this caution born from protecting him and Mingting? Or was there some other reason?

If she was afraid of implicating the Pei and Xie families, that didn’t make sense!

Originally, he’d forced this case on her, even lying about it, claiming to have been good brothers with Zheng Huaizuo.

She should understand more clearly than anyone that he would never abandon it.

As for Pei Mingting, he’d agreed to Wu Shunian from the start—he had even less reason to be a deserter.

If there was some other reason…

What could that reason be?

If he and Mingting truly became deserters due to family reasons, then judging from her words just now, she and Li Buyan would continue investigating.

From this it could be seen that she treated the Zheng family case as her own personal matter.

Could there be a possibility—

That she actually knew she was from the Zheng family??

The moment this conclusion surfaced in his mind, Xie Zhifei’s heart jumped violently, and he leaped up from the grand chair.

“Xie Fifty, what are you doing?”

“I…”

Even Xie Zhifei himself was a bit dazed.

What am I doing?